Best Bets for places to go, things to do in SouthCoast this week

Thursday

Jan 31, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 31, 2013 at 8:28 AM

Where to go and what to do in SouthCoast this week

IN CONCERT

Chamber music society to offer performances

The South Coast Chamber Music Society returns for its 12th season with performances in Marion and New Bedford this weekend. The program includes Bach's sunny Concerto for Oboe and Strings, Fauré's elegant Piano Quartet in c minor, and a selection of Lyric Pieces for solo piano by Edward Grieg. Guest violinists Ari Isaacman-Beck and Heidi Braun-Hill join violist Don Krishnaswami, cellist Timothy Roberts, oboist Donna Cobert, and pianist Janice Weber for the concerts at St. Gabriel's Church and Grace Episcopal Church. Both venues are wheelchair accessible.

5 p.m. Saturday, St. Gabriel's Church, 124 Front St., Marion, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Grace Episcopal Church, School and County streets, New Bedford. To purchase tickets, $20 (under 16 free), visit www.southcoastchambermusic.org; tickets also available at the door 30 minutes before each concert.

Voices in Time to present rock 'n' roll cabaret

Voices in Time, a children's vocal troupe under the direction of Rochester's Sharon Jensen, is presenting its "Heart of Rock & Roll Cabaret" Friday evening. This year's students range in age from 7-18 and are from all over the SouthCoast. In addition to highlighting all students with entertaining musical numbers, this season's cabaret will also spotlight some of the musically talented fathers and brothers of students as well. This live band, combined with the impressive student performances, is sure to get the audience rocking, Jensen promises.

5:30 p.m. Friday at White's of Westport. Tickets, $26, include a full-course turkey dinner which will be followed by the show. To reserve, contact Voicesintime@aol.com or (508) 642-7155.

Sandywoods presents fiddler Jeremy Kittel

Jeremy Kittel is at the forefront of a new breed of fiddlers and violinists who easily navigate a multitude of musical styles and traditions. Fluidly mastering this musical heritage, Kittel also breaks new ground while helping to redefine the role of his instrument. Currently touring internationally with his band, Kittel will perform Saturday evening at Sandywoods, a new arts and agricultural community in Tiverton.

The New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestra will be holding a murder mystery fundraiser, "The Cat's Meow Cruise," Saturday evening at Fairhaven Town Hall. If you like to laugh or want to find something different to do with your middle or high school children, you should not miss this event. The students of the New Bedford Symphony Youth Orchestras have been working hard to make this fundraising event a memorable one. There will be a murder mystery set in the Roaring Twenties, and live music by the Southcoast Jazz Orchestra. Substantial hors d'oeuvre will be served, and there will also be a silent auction. Costume dress is invited, but not required.

Cocktails begin at 6:15 p.m. Saturday at the Fairhaven Town Hall, Center Street. Act I will start promptly at 6:45. There will be music and dancing at 8, and Act II will begin at 9. The event concludes at 9:30. Tickets are $30 for adults, $20 for students. Call Merrillan Melberg at (774) 202-1207 or e-mail coordinator@nbsyo.org

Enjoy a skating outing and help Cub Scout pack

Marion Cub Scout Pack 32 and the Marion Recreation Department are partnering to hold a fundraiser for the scouts. On Sunday afternoon, all proceeds from the public skating session will go to Pack 32. Coffee, hot cocoa, water and baked goods will be for sale in the arena. Jon Pope of Uncle Jon's is donating the coffee and cocoa, and Tom Strom of Kool Kone is supplying water and other food items. So come get some exercise, enjoy a snack, and help the Scouts.

The Ocean Explorium's Global Voice Science on a Sphere Evening Series continues Wednesday with John Bullard, the Northeast regional administrator for NOAA Fisheries, who will discuss "The Changing Fisheries." Organizers say Bullard will provide a thought-provoking and engaging presentation on the changing state of fishery resources in the Northeast, and the challenges being faced by fishermen and fishery managers to preserve both fish and fishermen, since each is essential to historic fishing communities like New Bedford. Bullard was mayor of New Bedford from 1986 until 1992. He went to Washington in 1993 and served for five years as head of NOAA's Office of Sustainable Development and Intergovernmental Affairs. Most recently, he was president of the Sea Education Association in Woods Hole.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Wednesday for Science on a Sphere presentations; talk will begin at 6:30. Admission is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, $8 for seniors and $3 for children. Afterwards, continue the conversation with Bullard in the private dining room at Cork Wine and Tapas Bar, 90 Front St. Cork will offer a special menu of foods and beverages, including special pricing, exclusively for Global Voice attendees on Wednesday. 174 Union St., downtown New Bedford. (508) 994-5400.